The Righteous Gemstones season 3 finale: This miraculous two-episode sendoff feels like payday
Prepare for plague, redemption, Bible Bonkers, and those glorious Cousins Night vibes
TV Reviews The Righteous Gemstones
From The Foot Fist Way through Vice Principals Danny McBride and collaborators Jody Hill and David Gordon Green solidified an archetypal man drunk on unearned confidence and vomiting grievance at the slightest inconvenience. With Vice Principals, though, his prickliest show to date, McBride’s characters got nastier, and the lines between good and bad taste got hazier. At every turn, McBride asks, Can you empathize with this person? But he never does so without heart. He balances obscenity and emotionality by creating tension between Neal Gamby or Kenny Powers and those who love them. Those are the stakes. These characters don’t want to disappoint the good people in their lives.
With The Righteous Gemstones, McBride invests heavier in the surrounding characters. The ensemble is larger and stranger, but their connection is undeniably stronger. The alienation of Powers and Gamby isn’t present in Jesse Gemstone. Jesse doesn’t lose his fortune or his wife. Every season, he starts at the top and ends even higher. In a material sense, the stakes are lower this season (does anyone care if the Gemstones Three lose the church or Dusty Daniels’ endorsement?), so the show leans harder on emotion, heightening the interpersonal stakes within the family. After eight episodes of characters forced to imagine a world without their partners, writers McBride, John Carcieri, and Jeff Fradley, and director Jody Hill bring it all back home.
GRADE FOR SEASON 3, EPISODE 9, “WONDERS THAT CANNOT BE FATHOMED, MIRACLES THAT CANNOT BE COUNTED”: A-
We see the focus on emotion immediately. Standing in contrast to last season’s vomit-sesh, the slow-motion reunion of “I Will Take You By The Hand And Keep You” is a tender sequence, emphasizing the importance of these relationships and reestablishing what was almost lost. On the soundtrack, the Milk Carton Kids’ “Younger Years” harkens to the episode title and one of the primary motifs of the season. “Oh, I held out my arms,” the band sings, evoking the episode’s title and the “hands-in-hands” scene to come. But it also speaks to Jesse’s feelings of betrayal. He held out his arms, and his father didn’t pay the ransom.
As Jesse says, Eli would make a piss-poor poker player, muchacho, because he was working on faith, hoping the old Peter would prevail. Ironically, this is the one time the Gemstones don’t use their vast wealth and influence to solve a problem. Though the three blame Eli for their delayed rescue, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin show a new side of their personality: the capacity for forgiveness—even if they’re weaponizing it to get back at their daddy. Eli, who once imagined a future selling the buckets Kelvin recently pooed in, found the one thing he wouldn’t shell out for, and the kids know it. Forgiving Eli becomes the emotional crux of the episode as we see a series of apologies and reconciliations on the Gemstone side and a collapsing community with the Brothers of Tomorrow’s Fires.
Set on the roadsides and underpasses of the American South, Peter and the Brothers roam highways like a caravan on the way to a January 6 meet-up. However, left with nothing but their cars, some weapons, and a stockpile of explosives, Peter’s lack of leadership skills reveals his weakness. Without the ransom money promised, Tomorrow’s Fires have all but been extinguished; and as Peter’s control slips, a power vacuum forms, leaving the group open for mutiny.
Peter’s inability to reassert his power is the flipside of the Gemstones’ A-plot. Breaking up the scenes of militia disputes, Eli and May-May reconcile over a mutual appreciation for having someone in their lives who doesn’t blow smoke. Meanwhile, Peter is blowing smoke, telling his men he has a plan when he doesn’t. Instead, he’s getting into petty shouting matches with Marshall (played by country star Sturgill Simpson) about who is and isn’t a woman.
The Gemstones are way past all that, and we see each one making up with their partner. With Judy and B.J. in the bath and Kelvin and Keefe at the massage table, we watch them acknowledge their jealousy, insecurity, and fear regarding Taryn and Stephen. Keefe doesn’t have the words, but B.J. clarifies: “We’re allowed to make mistakes just as long as we have each other’s back.” If only the Brothers Of Tomorrow’s Fires could adopt that philosophy.
There’s such a strange alchemy in this show. McBride’s comedy has always been dark, gross, and highly sexual, but he finds emotional pockets in all the unexpected male nudity. A scene where Judy roleplays as a father who must stop his son’s helicopter penis with her mouth can be romantic and warm as well as hilarious and strange. It’s not sentimental like the Farrelly brothers are, but it walks that line. The emotional core of these scenes remains clear among the perverse humor.
Despite the gray chops, Jesse hasn’t totally reformed. He buys his wife and kids new four-wheel ATVs to apologize. Still, Jesse might apologize with his wallet first, but his sentiments toward Amber feel genuine and establish the next episode’s theme. He was a shitty, unsupportive partner, and the only way forward was through respect for Amber.
The apology tour gives the family a reset, and the Gemstones Three break bread in a place they’ve never been: Jason’s Steakhouse during the week. Enjoying the type of family bonding that should’ve come when they were held hostage, the Gemstones learn the beauty of holding hands. Whether they know it or not, “hands-on” and “hands-in-hands” are excellent metaphors for the type of organization they ran before and the one they hope to become. Hands-on-hands offers a top-down approach, likely with Jesse on top, that breaks apart when raised. At Jason’s, though, the siblings raise their interlocked hands above their heads triumphantly as Judy wonders if her brothers orgasmed. Again, it’s a weird show.
Patriarchs have a hard time at this stage in the series, but Eli recognizes something in his kids that eludes Peter. When Eli stands trial for refusing to pay, the kids work as a team in chastising him, rejecting his apologies and explanations as sentimental hogwash. Through their spiritual advisor, Uncle Baby Billy, they cast their father out of their lives, essentially claiming the Gemstone ministry for themselves, and Eli couldn’t be prouder to see them working together and owning the role. However, Peter cannot allow Marshall to take over and go on protesting monuments. Nor can he tell them that they will blow up the Salvation Center. In the end, he turns them in.
Whether the siblings won against their dad doesn’t matter because they can finally play the victim. Their status as abductees gives them renewed confidence, with Kelvin taking one of the most genuine risks of his life by kissing Keefe. It is a remarkable step that the show seemed to avoid for three seasons, and its payoff could immediately be felt in McBride’s excited expression and Tim Baltz’s proud nod. This is a new era for the Gemstones, one where they support their partners, and their dad watches on with pride.
“I Will Take You By The Hand And Keep You” reaches some of the series’ highest highs, with the performances, music, and direction reveling in a new normal for the family. For the first time, possibly since Jesse joined Gideon’s mission trip, the family is fulfilling God’s message in their own way. They truly become the Righteous Gemstones, a marker that will last at least through the finale.
The proper season finale, “Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted,” offers just that: wonders and miracles. With the episode’s centerpiece being a literal act of God, The Righteous Gemstones finally lives up to its name and then some. And by miracle, of course, I’m talking about the filming of Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers. Seemingly holding out hope that his niece and nephews would come through on the full-series pickup, Billy pulls his trump card. He’s friends with Dusty Daniels and offers him up as a prize on Bible Bonkers if the Gemstones can beat the Simkins.
The Simkins rivalry turned out to be a red herring this season. Representing a corporatized, Bizarro version of the Gemstones, the Simkins showed up in the first episode, out-classed our millionaire underdogs, and disappeared. Before facing these aspirational figures, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin had to prove their worth by getting their house in order. They needed to be humbled, and by mixing it up with the Montgomerys, they were.
Tonight, all roads led to Bible Bonkers, including Peter’s. After snitching on his militia, Peter and Chuck hit the road, stopping off at a Coinstar so Peter could collect his final $12. In a quick but effective scene, Lukas Haas and Steve Zahn share a very human, loving moment that sets up the episode’s final beats. Peter is a tough character. It’s hard to sympathize with the white nationalist terror he represents, especially after the last few years of militias trying to overthrow the government. But Zahn finds a sympathetic center through his love for Chuck, showing again how McBride grabs emotionality through flawed characters loving each other. So when the truck blows, we already have feelings for Peter.
This is also a moment to get back on Chuck’s side. The episode devotes two scenes to his forgiveness. There’s the family apology, in which we see Kelvin and Judy’s forgiveness skills again, and then a solo apology for Jesse on the Go Kart track. I’m not sure we needed both, but it’s a helpful reminder of the divide between the family. Jesse owns an empty theme park, and the last of Chuck’s belongings went up with his father’s truck.
With the Gemstones and the Montgomerys realigned, Bible Bonkers is a sure thing. They’re so confident that when Baby Billy leaves the cards with the answers, Jesse wipes his cooties all over them—mostly because he can’t symbolically tear them in two. He doesn’t need to because Walton Goggins rips the Gemstones Studios a new one with the opening number.
And let’s get it out of the way. Bible Bonkers absolutely deserves the full-season pickup. Set to Aunt Tiffany’s beautiful, ever-so-slightly altered version of the Feud theme, Billy owns the stage, living his supposed lifelong dream of hosting a game show. He tells awful jokes about how expensive wood is these days and holds a skinny microphone. He was made for this. This is the payday Billy’s been waiting for.
While the Gemstones get their butts handed to them by the Simkins and two adolescent ringers, outside Peter stands between Eli, May-May, and Gideon and a new bomb poised to blow the studio sky high. As May-May fails to convince Peter to cease with the plan, she says, “You know this isn’t what Christ would want.” Peter’s response, in retrospect of the miraculous events about to unfold, feels prophetic. “I don’t know what Christ wants these days,” he says. “But one thing I do know is he always has the Gemstones back.”
Even without the swarm of locusts hellbent on showing everyone what’s really important, Peter has a point. His frustration grew out of jealousy and resentment, crushed by the knowledge that no matter how hard he worked, he’ll never have the comfort or security the Gemstones’ wealth affords them. He even turned to crime, much like Eli, to secure it. But Jesus rewards Eli’s misdeeds. He punished Peter.
Almost in response to Peter’s line, The Righteous Gemstones goes biblical when a black cloud of locust fills the sky as if billowing from Hell’s fires. As the locusts turn Bible Bonkers into the eighth plague of Egypt, each Gemstone seeks out their family members. Baby Billy’s giant face falls from the set and squishes a man’s head like a grape while Jesse seeks Amber and his kids; Kelvin finds Keefe; Judy reunites with B.J.; and even Billy grabs Tiffany and Lionel. The Montgomerys also come together as a family for the first time all season. And the coup de grâce: Jesse braves the bugs for his daddy. It’s as if this were a more meaningful test of faith than Billy’s quiz.
When the bugs cleared, Vance Simkins failed the test, losing out on the Dusty deal due to his cowardice. May-May and Peter learn the lesson, though. Family requires support and trust, and May-May did not support Peter. It’s a happy ending until the final locust lands on Peter’s hand, and he tears off the deadman’s switch to shoo it away. Realizing that he activated the bomb, he drives off in the van to save the family from the explosion. With Joseph Stephens’ theme playing in the background, it’s surprisingly moving to hear Peter yell, “For tomorrow’s fires!” But that’s the kind of magic the show can muster, finding emotion by treating these caricatures like real people with real pain and love.
The season gets quite an epilogue. Dusty Daniels is lowered into the ground inside his stock car (whooweee, sucker). Kelvin and Keefe understand how they’re projecting their insecurities onto others, choosing to stop busting smut. Finally, we see the family, including Peter, taking turns in the Redeemer as the ghost of Aimee-Leigh watches proudly. The Gemstones are redeemed, with each getting a turn at the wheel. It’s a far more upbeat finale than I imagined, especially after season two. With Dolly Parton wailing Collective Soul’s “Shine,” the family finds common ground in the spectacle of a truck with humongous wheels. The scene brings the season to a close on a joyous note, reminding us that even the darkest comedies can have moments of light.
Stray observations
- Kelvin made it official: Peter is “the worst uncle ever.”
- “Damn-ass lil’ daddy! I’m so sick of you.”
- Judy’s two imaginary husbands: Ryan Phillippe and Savion Glover, the tap dancer.
- “Our father, Elijah, doesn’t love us anymore.”
- “Baby Billy, you ain’t no damn lawyer.”
“I was a paralegal once in another life, for your information.” - For one second, I thought Gemstones booked Gene Hackman. His final appearance would no longer be that episode of Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives, but this gratuitous orgy with characters named “Uncle Baby Billy” and “The Slick Bandit” Dusty Daniels. Alas, it was just some guy who looked like him, sort of.
- Peter’s reaction to his Coinstar payoff was one of the most relatable moments I have seen on television.
- “Are we doing chuckles, boys?”
- “I’m so proud of you. Now go cheat.”
- Cassidy Freeman has some of the best reaction shots of the night, but her response to Judy yelling, “It’s okay—he’s my uncle,” was the funniest of the lot.
- The Wilhelm Scream as Jody Hill dove over a railing during the swarm was perfection.
- I’m still not totally sure why May-May blamed Amiee Leigh over Eli for what happened in 2000. It feels a little bit like something was cut out of the season.
- Hallelujah, Gemstones was picked up for a fourth season. It seems inevitable that it will focus on Jesse dealing with Gideon as Eli’s apprentice. But more than anything, the fourth season has to deal with Kelvin, his sexuality, and how the church reacts to it.
- That’s a wrap on this season of The Righteous Gemstones. After last season’s darker, action-heavy approach, I thought this was an intelligent zag. This worked, too, creating an emotionally resonant season that rewards rewatching.
81 Comments
Nothing against this show, but review some more fucking shows, why don’t you?
Yeah, Justified: City Primeval is right there.
Amen.
Do you want more reality tv reviews? Because that’s how you get reality tv reviews.
A criticism of a review of good entertainment from a guy who watches wrastlin’.
I mean, I’m delighted that Heels got a second season. I just want a full length version of the intro song.
This site currently employs about three people with a budget of whatever they found under the couch, it’s a miracle we have any episode-by-episode coverage of anything anymore.
A whole goddamn season of Sunny just came and went with nothing from this site, the place that first introduced me to the show way back in like season 5.
Poor Baby Billy—-finally gets his dream and God sends locusts down to wipe him out. Then he has to watch his giant head roll down the aisle and out the door, lol.I thought the locusts thing was kinda right out of left field, didn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me. But I am happy they didn’t kill off Peter, even though the could’ve been a little less obvious about the setup of him having survived.Zahn was absolutely great this season. Zahn and Johnston—great, great casting.
“We’re gonna have to do reshoots on this.”I’ve held the idea for a while (at least since last season) that in the show’s universe, God is real and actually does favor the Gemstones in their hour of need, albeit usually not as biblically as the plague of locusts. So with that premise in mind, the locusts didn’t strain any plausibility for me.
As much as I don’t want to undercut any creative, bold strokes Paul Thomas Anderson has committed to in his career…hell, I have the guy’s autograph… I think this particular deus ex machina plague was a bit more effective than those San Fernando Valley frogs (if only for it’s streamlined nature)
And I think it works because we’ve had hints that God really does look out for the Gemstones and give them nudges when they are trying to do the right thing or are in danger.
Judy was the MVP this season. Edi Patterson proved herself on Vice Principals and she really stepped up to outshine her scene-stealing siblings. Her mocking Eli’s “I guess I still remember the old Peter. I hoped that man was somewhere inside him still” is in a loop at my house right now.
And Bible Bonkers was everything it needed to be and more. The finale played like it was a series finale – so glad the show was renewed this week.
agree 100%…LOVE JUDY GEMSTONE!
I need a full version of the Redeemer theme
Which version though? I think there’s a few variations on the theme aka the sort of hair metal one, a country version…
Which version though? I think there’s a few variations on the theme aka the sort of hair metal one, a country version…
There are two versions. Collective Soul and the version on the show which is by none other that Dolly Parton.
Here is the full version of “Redeemer” in all its glory:
God, these were so good. I have a lot to say about them, but the first thing I thought was that there were at least three moments in the first episode where I thought “If Edi Patterson doesn’t win an Emmy for this, there’s no justice in the world.” Then I paused the episode and there were still ten minutes left.The locusts would feel out of left field on a lot of other shows. But though it’s been more subtle in previous seasons, I’ve always felt Peter was right: God seems to have the Gemstones’ back. Generally, more so when they do the right thing, but still.Kelvin finally admitting to himself who he is, and the reactions to that, was such a triumphant moment too. (McBride’s expression, and Devine just adjusting his glasses, just perfect.)The final scene was wonderful, too. Really got to me, although some of that is for personal reasons.I feel good about having said for a while now that Gideon was going to be Eli’s true successor.
Fortunately the emmy’s have been delayed so maybe I don’t have to read about every acting performance deserves one for a few weeks ::).I personally don’t care for her character, but admit she does play it well.
Swerve! Pontius is winning the game of thrones.
Haha, wouldn’t that be something. I’m not sure he’s going to be winning anything anytime soon except maybe some beatings and some deep resentment toward his father.
I also just realized that the final scene, and Keefe bringing the custom chairs for himself and Kelvin, was great not just for showing his craftsmanship and his acceptance into the family, but also, now the family knows his name is not Queef or Chief or Quiche or Heath.
I wish I could star this, but I’m having the same issues as a lot of you.
“Kelvin finally admitting to himself who he is, and the reactions to that, was such a triumphant moment too. (McBride’s expression, and Devine just adjusting his glasses, just perfect.)“Yeah I thought that part was great, I mean it’s been REALLY obvious Keefe was 100% in love with Kelvin for a long time so getting a pay off what a hell yeah moment. Like if it wasn’t clear before the massage table scene absolutely spelled it out. Also the scene in the van outside the porno store was really good, with Kelvin realizing something I wish every hard core Christian/Republican would realize, what someone does behind close doors is none of your fucking business.
I loved how, other than the immediately facial reactions, there was no further discussion of the kiss. It simply just didn’t really register as A Thing that needed additional discussion. They all new it was there and probably were happy for him.
Right Kelvins sibling knew he way gay the entire time and it was SUPER clear that Keefe was gay even from the first episode.
NEAL Gamby. God fucking damn it.
Thank you!
I SO loved Vice Principals. I wish that show had gone on longer. Nothing against EB&D, which of course was great. But I genuinely like VP more.
EB&D had its moments, but I agree, unlike most people, its my least favorite of the Jody/Danny HBO trilogy.
EB&D would have made a great movie, whereas VP and TRG are just great television shows.
You know, I never thought about that, but that is a damn good idea.Although we might not have gotten Ashley Schaffer having a racist meltdown and being set on fire in a movie. EB&D is worth 4 seasons just for that scene alone.
I think Eastbound & Down season 1 is still one of the best things they’ve ever done, but the overall run of the show doesn’t hold up as well as Vice Principals or The Righteous Gemstones.
I thought I was alone in that sentiment. I like EB&D and was really impressed with the first season. It’s not often I see an insufferable, self-centered, narcissistic protagonist who causes misery for everyone around him be both hilarious and human. We’re supposed to hate him, and yet at the end when he feigns success to his family, it’s hard not feeling sorta sorry for him. After that season, the show is still good on multiple levels, but I don’t feel they surpassed the bar from the first season. It’s why whenever I rewatch it, I tend to have little interest past the first.The entirety of Vice Principals was a solid run imo, producing it back-to-back with both seasons did it a ton of favors with the writing and performances. By episode 2 I already knew I like the show more than the previous.With Righteous Gemstones, it was actually what introduced me to the rest of the McBride/Hill/Green shows as I loved the first season from start to finish as it released weekly. By then with all we had, I considered Gemstones a step above VP, until the second season of the former finished. Season 2 was good, but it felt shallow in comparison and because of that, VP made its way to my number one between the three shows. Season 3 of Gemstones is really well-done and it beat my expectations to the point where I think it’s slightly above the first even if it recycles many of its tropes. Like that, Gemstones is back to number 1 for me.
Arguably Goggins’ best role. I love Shane Vendrell and Boyd Crowder, but damn.
Oh man, we are on the same wavelength. I legit saw him in Vice Principals and it was like a revelation.
As soon as I saw “Vincent Gamby,” I went straight to the comments.
Hallelujah, Gemstones was picked up for a fourth season. It seems inevitable that it will focus on Jesse dealing with Gideon as Eli’s apprentice. http://www.blueappleimports.com But more than anything, the fourth season has to deal with Kelvin, his sexuality, and how the church reacts to it.
Funniest line of the episode (and maybe the season) was Shea Whigham: “He went to find some titty”.
When Kelvin went over and kissed Keef, I literally stood up and applauded. I’ve been pulling for those two all season, but I didn’t realize how much until that moment. Everything about that scene was brilliantly done.I’ve been watching HBO since the days of Taxicab Confessions and Oz, and I don’t think there’s ever been a cast put together as talented as this one. To see this many actors so completely nailing their roles week in and week out in one series – just awesome.
This is my favorite season of Righteous Gemstones-the cast and how they play off each other are just perfection. I enjoyed the season so much that it has inspired me to start watching the first two seasons again, and I am picking up so many little things that I did not before. Great show.The swarm of locusts felt like a little much for me, even for Righteous Gemstones. But the character payoffs were so good that I am just going to ignore it while I look forward to Season 4.
I think it might be my favorite season, too. It’s definitely better than S2, but S1 has Misbehavin’ so it’s a tough call.
This is such a good post, because on rewatch, Misbehavin got its hooks into me all over again. I have been listening to it and Payday from the start of this season constantly for two weeks.
And now there’s “Redeemer”!
Kelvin and Keefe kissed and that’s all I fucking needed. Just thank fucking god, dude.
A good arc for Kelvin (and hilarious for the show) would be to transition him to a new “gay outreach” role rather than youth – god, I’m chuckling at the implications of it already.
I’m happy for Keef. He really was on the edge. I was worried he’d go back to the cult and become self destructive again.
Dolly Parton’s cover of Collective Soul’s “Shine” was just amazing. I never knew it existed. Just beautiful.
Televangelists are a plague—the 9th plague—for how they fleece people of money and provide false hope, but dangit, this show has been a hit for me since Season 1. Probably because each character is so flawed. And specifically in the case of the Gemstone children, just horrible people.
As much as I enjoyed last night’s finale, I’m hoping that Season 4 brings their downfall.
On the one hand the show doesn’t go quite as hard on the Televangelist/Megachurch scene as it could, on the other hand I think it’s interesting that even without showing the Gemstones being overtly hateful/bigoted or chud-like, like they’re still pretty fucked up.
I don’t know. It’s always seemed meaningful to me that the only character that seems worth a damn is Gideon, and he has spent his life trying to get away. I’d love to see his fourth season arc move him outside the megachurch arena, to the ”four walls and a bible” philosophy of his grandfather and May May.
It’s been following the Godfather thematically and structurally, so there is hope that it does. If the characters do not ultimately suffer for their evil actions committed in the name of good under a sham megachurch, then I hope that the writing itself damns them for who they are: monstrous large-scale socioeconomic parasites living off of generational wealth by ripping off suckers with the only goal of making more and more money, ruining more and more lives by taking money from easily influenced poor people looking for a message of hope only to end up destitute.Dramaturgically, this tees up the possibility of a real comeuppance for the damage they do to the world. So far they have been the (arguably) least worse of a world filled with terrible people. Let’s introduce some characters that aren’t stock white supremacists, but just good people, good people who got bamboozled by the Gemstone Church propaganda and ended up giving away all of their money just to be able to be part of a glitzy, famous mega-church.
In real life, I totally hope for all televangelists to have a downfall but I don’t think that is in the cards for the Gemstones. They have consistently shown them as dysfunctional but well-meaning. The Y2K thing is the closest they have come to showing them being shady.
I think Peter was absolutely correct when he said God seems to always have the Gemstones’ back, and I think we’ve seen that in moments before when they try to do the right thing. The two that stand out for me last season were Eli coming out of his coma while Kelvin was praying for him, and then Kelvin managing to carry the cross even despite his broken thumbs.
I’m thinking Gideon inherits the church and demolishes the enterprise, one way or another.
In a call-back to last week’s review… this week it was May-May who was out of the loop on Bible Bonkers.
I’ll have to go back and compare but the Bible Bonkers official theme really just was a souped up version of Tiffany’s keyboard noodling at the Cousins Night, wasn’t it? RIP that one Bonker who got his head crushed by the falling Baby Billy sign.
I really likes this show season 1 and 2 but this season left me cold. Not sure if I will bother with season 4.
Which country is this in reference to?? Sheesh, the AV Club libtard writers are deranged!
There’s the family apology, in which we see Kelvin and Judy’s forgiveness skills again, and then a solo apology for Jesse on the Go Kart track. I’m not sure we needed bothWell, remember, Kelvin and Judy were kidnapped by anonymous militia thugs, but Chuck was the point man on kidnapping Jesse. I’m sure that does make it feel more personal for him, and why Jesse is slower to forgive him than the other two are.
Seasons one and two are much darker in their humor and much more critical of this grotesque kind of televangelism. This season is the Gemstones versus uneducated, militant, Christian white supremacists. Of course the audience will side with the Gemstone family. In the previous seasons, the conflict was not this black and white, so simplistic.The argument was much more nuanced in the earlier seasons and held the characters to task within the script for being such vile people doing such vile things.That did not happen so much this season. Are we really supposed to warm up to them because they are starting to treat each other less badly, and are we supposed to ignore what a scourge they are to their community and all of those that they affect?I don’t think so. If next season ignores their hypocrisy, the fact that this is a large crime family and everyone around them has to pay protection money donation money in order to be allowed to socialize and associate inside of their community (or otherwise be ostracized), then I am not interested in following their story any longer.Personal growth and a better understanding of their own culture is… something. It does not make their continuing avarice and hypocrisy any better.This should be the peak for the family. This is the closest they get to being happy. Next season should be the beginning of the downfall, and hopefully it tackles the subject matter at hand as opposed to ignoring it or rationalizing it.
I’m glad they gave us several detailed looks at the Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers logo, because that’s going to make it really easy to make Bible Bonkers t-shirts which I am going to wear!
Shout out to Gene Hackman!
I’m glad we’re finally done with the tiresome subtexting of Kelvin and Keefe’s relationship. Those characters can maybe finally breathe a bit now that we can dispense with the lame sexual tension in the series so far (really, the only truly bad part of this series).But having watched this finale I have to wonder if there’s much else to tell. Yes, Gideon seems to have a mission ahead of him, but the major relationships have all kind of finished their arcs. I love this show but this latest finale could easily cap it off.
It was obviously set up as something that could work as the series finale in case it didn’t get renewed. But I’m damn glad it did.
I’d somehow missed the renewal news, so here’s hoping Gideon gets a lot more screen time (and hopefully additional car chase scenes).
I thought it was fairly obvious why May May blamed Aimee Leigh.Because Aimee Leigh was the rich anf famous child star. May May and Eli came from humble beginnings and she saw Aimee Leigh as the impetus for Eli becoming more worldly and more concerned with wealth. Which is true, since it’s highly unlikely Eli would have been as successful without Aimee Leigh.And then that success felt to May May like the poison fruit that led to her own husband’s greed, financial trouble and descent into crime.
Best moments – the hurricane booth (and the Bonker Boys) and Baby Billy telling the story of how he knows Dusty (and Gene Hackman). “Did you fuck Dusty Daniels?!??” “I doubt it…but you never know.”
This isn’t really a negative or a nitpick because the finale was great as was the season, its more of a general question; Peter was still a wanted man for being a milita member, right? How’d he get out of that to be there with the family at the end? I’m just gonna assume Gemstone money and they blamed it all on Sturgil Simpson’s character.
I’m thinking the Gemstones got him a really good lawyer.
I was wondering the same thing, you’ve got the militia member thing in addition to the two bomb vans. Seems like you’d have to do at least some community service for that.
I mean the parking lot bombing alone….It’s kinda fucked up that Chuck possibly blew people up to avoid telling his dad he wanted to get away from him.
“Can we get a plan? It don’t even have to be a good one!”
Best show on TV right now by miles. Couldn’t be better.
felt like a series finale. I wonder if they were banking on that at one point? Maybe when HBO was making a lot of cuts?
It’s been renewed but every time so far, the renewal comes after they’ve already finished filming. So McBride and Co treat every season as its own thing knowing they might not get more.
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